"Wait….what do you mean he is dead?!" asked Edgeworth. "How…where…when…"

"Just earlier today." explained Simon. "We were busy all day trying to solve the case."

"And, naturally, under my supervision, the case has been solved. But thee are still unresolved issues."

"But didn't you say the killer has been caught?" asked Edgeworth.

"I did." said Franziska. "And it's true."

"Then what is the problem?"

"The issue is…" said Simon. "We never actually got a confession. We have no confirmation of what actually went down in there."

"What?!" said Gumshoe. "Th…this has never happened before!"

"Relax, detective." said Edgeworth. "We do not require a confession if we have hard evidence."

"Do you?" asked Kay.

"I believe we do." said Franziska. "But I don't know if even evidence will be enough in this case."

"Why?"

Franziska looked around.

"This is not the place to talk about this."

"Then let's go to my office." said Edgeworth.

They got out of the car and, along with Franziska and Simon, walked to Edgeworth's office. There they all sat down, trying to calm down.

"So," said Edgeworth. "What is this case? Take if from the very beginning if you will. Once the circumstances are clear to me, I can offer you advice."

"Fair enough." said Franziska. "Allow me to tell you exactly what happened earlier today. Let me tell you that while you were relaxing in a desert town, I was engaged in far more important matters.

Franziska was sitting alone in a café at the center of town.

"I can't believe this!" she thought. "The wait is killing me! Darn the Interpol bureaucracy! By the time I finally get the permission to…"

She was interrupted by a phone call.

"Yes, Franziska von Karma speaking."

"Prosecutor von Karma. This is the chief prosecutor speaking."

"Chief? To what do I owe the honor?"

"I have something important to tell you."

"Has my request been satisfied? Can I take the man with me?"

"Uh…no, I'm sorry."

"What?! They turned it down?! How could…"

"This is not a matter of personal preference, Ms. von karma. Talking to that man is out of the question now."

"Why?"

"He is dead."

"What did you say?" She jumped up from her chair. That scared the other customers. She sat back down and tried to calm down.

"D…dead?! How can this be? Isn't he in prison?!"

"Exactly. They just found him in his cell."

"What happened?"

"I don't know all the details myself. That's why I called you."

"Me?"

"I want you to go there. Edgeworth is away right now. You are the only one I trust to handle this. Can you do it?'

"You bet I can! I…I mean, yes sir! Someone wanted to silence that man. I'll find them and make sure they pay for it!"

"That's what I like to hear."

"Okay, so I will head over to the prison to…"

"One moment. There is one more thing."

"What?"

"I have assigned another prosecutor to work with you."

"Why? Don't you think I can do it alone?"

"I do. And that's why I'm sending him with you."

"What?"

"He is a greenhorn. A rookie. He still lacks the experience needed. This seems like a good opportunity for him to learn how to investigate cases and how to handle evidence and witnesses."

"So…you want me to babysit a rookie?"

"No, he is competent enough on his own. I have seen that. But he still is too new to this. I want him to get a taste of an actual, formal investigation. And I believe you are the right person to do that. Will you do it?"

"Well….I assume you won't take no for an answer, will you?"

"You assumption is correct. He is waiting for you at the prison already. Good luck."

Franziska hang up.

"How do I always end up getting wrapped up in things like this? Not only has my only lead evaporated into thin air…but now I have to solve his death, assisted by a greenhorn who has no idea how to investigate. Great! I wonder how my little brother is fairing right now. Anyway, I better get going if I'm going to get this over with."

Franziska left and went straight to the prison. She saw a guard standing at the front gate.

"Guard!" she said. "I am prosecutor Franziska von Karma. I have been assigned to investigate the murder here."

"Murder? What murder?"

"What…didn't an inmate die here?"

"Oh, you mean the death of Benedict Waterloo?"

"Yes, him! If you know, then why are you wasting my time?"

"I…I'm not! You see…"

Franziska didn't let him finish and whipped him.

"Silence! I don't need excuses! Just take me to his cell now! Or I'll have a lot of fun during you salary evaluation."

"O…okay. Whatever you may, madam."

He escorted her through the prison. As they passed through the cells with all the inmates inside, Franziska starring feeling uneasy.

"Being surrounded by such vile creatures…it make me uncomfortable. I hope I can solve this quickly, so I can get out of here."

Eventually, they arrived at the cell. It was filled with officers.

"Do you have any evidence?" she asked. "Anything that indicates who did this?"

"Um…I feel it's pretty obvious." said the officer.

"Then why didn't you say anything?!" she whipped him again.

"Ow! Please, just look!"

Franziska went inside the cell. And what she saw scared her. It was the first time in her life she ever felt that feeling. The absolute fear, that terrible feeling freezing her entire body. She could feel a chill throughout her whole body. The sight made her want to cover her eyes. But she resisted. Her urge to know the truth was greater. She braced herself and looked at Benedict Waterloo, hanging from a rope from the cell's ceiling.

"My God! What happened here?" she asked.

"That…that's what I was trying to tell you!" said the officer. "We found him like this. The body hasn't been touched. Seems pretty cut-and-dry."

"You….you are saying he hanged himself?"

"That's what it looks like. It doesn't make sense otherwise."

"This…this can't be!" she thought. "Killing himself…that can't be right! Somebody must have killed him! That's the only way I can get to the ones behind this! I need someone to arrest!"

Unable to control her emotions, she yelled:

"Who is responsible for this?!"

Her outburst did not go unnoticed. Everyone in the cell turned to look at her. She felt embarrassed and lowered her head. That's when a voice ran out:

"Who, indeed. That is the question before us."

She turned around and was taken aback by what she saw. A man was standing there. He was very pale and dressed like a samurai.

"Who is this guy?" she wondered. "Why is he here?"

The man approached her. She felt threatened and so, she had her whip at the ready. The man noticed that, but still walked towards her.

"Blue hair, whip, serious attitude…I don't believe I am mistaken. You are prosecutor Franziska von karma, I trust?"

"You…who are you? How do you know who I am?"

The man took a bow.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance. I am Blackquill. Simon Blackquill. Prosecutor."

"Prosecutor? Wait…you are the one who's been assigned to work with me?"

"Indeed. It is my honour to work alongside someone of your status."

"You…you are a prosecutor?" she asked. "How utterly foolish! Is that what prosecutors look nowadays? Like they came out of a carnival? Preposterous!"

Blackquill did not appear insulted or surprised.

"I can understand your hesitation. I assume you excepted someone more formal. A guy in a suit with a tie and a briefcase? I assure you that my attire does not affect my competence or my will to discover the truth. Deep down, I am just another man who cares for justice."

Franziska looked at him. At first glance, he didn't seem worthy of attention or to be taken seriously. However, she could see something deeper inside him. His eyes had that look of purity. That shine of determination. She could feel he wasn't corrupt of evil, no matter what his appearance suggested. So, she decided to give him a chance.

"I appreciate your honesty, prosecutor Blackquill. And I am willing to guide you through the basic steps of an investigation."

"Thank you. I will do my best to not get in your way and try to be helpful, von karma-dono."

"W…what did you call me?"

"Oh, you don't know. Dono. This word, when added to someone's name, indicates respect and honorability."

"Well, I don't like it! Don't do it! Just Ms. von Karma will do."

"Okay. My apologies, Ms. von Karma. So, will we investigate?"

"Very well. But…if this case is a suicide, I cannot understand why two of us are needed."

Simon gave her a smile.

"Don't be too quick to make decisions like that. You haven't even taken a good look at the crime scene."

"But it seems like…"

"Maybe. But you must not merely look. You must observe. The evidence is waiting to be found. You just need to know exactly where to look."

Franziska did not like that.

"How foolishly foolish! This arrogant greenhorn thinks I need a lecture on how to do my job? From him?! How ludicrous!"

However, she decided to ignore it and change the subject.

"Very well. In that case, let's have a look at the crime scene."

She wandered around the cell, accompanied by Simon. The first thing she decided to look was the body.

"Seeing him like this…it's so hard!" she thought. "But I'm a von Karma! I have to remain focused! Nothing can hinder my investigation!"

"It does look pretty simple doesn't it?" said Simon. "Hanged from the ceiling, suffocated to death…"

"I know it does!" said Franziska. "But…the more I look at him, the more something feels…wrong."

"Wrong? What do you mean?"

Franziska looked all around the scene, careful not to overlook anything.

"What are you looking for?" asked Simon.

Franziska didn't reply. She just kept looking. Only after she was done did she speak.

"There is no stool."

"What?"

"The celling is pretty high here. Mr. Waterloo was just 5 feet and 6 inches. He couldn't have reached all the way up there to hang the rope, could he?"

Indeed." said Simon. "It does seem very difficult. Unnecessarily so, since he could have stepped on his bed to do that. And yet, he is nowhere near the bed."

"Maybe he wasn't alone." said Franziska. "Hanging the rope all the way up there and then hanging himself from it all by himself…that would have been difficult. But if he had help…"

"I see your point." said Simon. "Maybe this does need more investigation after all."

Franziska quickly turned to a nearby officer.

"You!"

"Y…yes, ma'am?"

"When was the body found? And by whom?"

"O…oh…it was found just this morning! By a security guard making rounds in this wing!"

"Th…this morning? What about the night shift? Didn't anyone pass by then?!"

"I…I don't know, ma'am! I'm just saying what I was told!"

"Then go find out!" she said and whipped him. "Bring me the witness!"

"Y…yes, ma'am!"

He ran away. Franziska turned to another officer.

"You!"

"Y…yes?"

"Go find out the shift program for last night! Who was supposed to be passing through here last night? And why didn't they report anything?!"

"Uh…y…yes, ma'am!"

"Now!" her voice was followed by the usual cradle of the whip.

"Y…yes! Right away!"

He also ran away.

Franziska looked across the hall. She noticed there was another cell there. It was empty. She turned to another officer.

"You!"

"Y…yes?"

"That cell…who's staying there?"

"I…I don't know."

She whipped him.

"You fool! The owner of that cell could be involved! Go over there and find evidence! Now!"

"Y….yes!"

He ran to that cell.

"You certainly have your way of making people do what you want quickly" said Simon. "That's an impressive talent."

"It's not just a talent!" said Franziska. "it's a requirement if you wish to continue as a prosecutor. Those foolish fools will search for any chance to slack off. You need to keep them in line. You need to make them fear you."

"That's a good point." said Simon. "But physical violence is not the only way to do that. Sometimes, a phycological approach is preferable."

"Whatever. Let's just carry on."

"You think there is anything to find here?"

"There is still one thing that doesn't make sense.

"What is that?"

"The rope. Where did it come from? I doubt the prison gives prisoners access to rope."

"I agree. It certainly would be very foolish. If we can trace where the rope originated from…"

"Maybe we could find the true killer."

"Um…ma'am." said a member forensics. "Do you need the body any longer? Because…"

"No, we don't." said Franziska. "Take it to the doctor for the autopsy. Bring us the reports when it's ready!"

"Yes, ma'am."

Some officers started preparing to take down the body. But they were interrupted by voices.

"What the hell happened here? How could this have happened?! In my prison?! This is madness!"

Franziska and Simon turned around. They saw two people coming into the cell. One of them was a man of medium height in a black suit and a red tie. He had a thick mustache and glasses. The other was a tall, muscular man. He had a beard and a was wearing a blue blazer. He was balding. The man with the mustache panicked as soon as he caught a glimpse of the body.

"Th…this can't be! A suicide…in my own prison?! I will never forgive myself! How could this have happened?!"

"Who are you?" asked Franziska. "This is a crime scene!"

"I know! But I think I have a right to be here."

"I assume we are speaking with the warden of the prison?" asked Simon

"Indeed. I am Bandin Chains, warden of this prison."

"I am Simon Blackquill, prosecutor. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Likewise." Chains pointed a looks towards Franziska.

"And this young lady?"

"Franziska von Karma, prosecuting prodigy."

"Really?" she seemed distrustful. "You are a prosecutor? I…"

"You doubt my abilities because I'm a woman?" she asked as she held her whip threateningly. "I can change that if you want!"

"N…no need! I believe you! Please excuse my folly!"

"Now then…would you care to introduce this bulk of a man to us?" asked Simon, looking at the other man.

"Oh, this is Bill Toughy, deputy warden of the prison. My right hand man for anything involving paperwork, discipline or organization."

Toughy didn't say anything. He just nodded, with an angry look on his face.

"That man looks like trouble." thought Franziska. "I hope he doesn't pose an obstacle to our investigation.

"Now then, is there anything the two of you would care to know?" asked Chains.

"Did you know Mr. Waterloo well?'

"No, I can't say I did. He was just another inmate at my prison. And he was here for less than a week. I don't know anything about him or what might have driven him to such an act."

"You think he killed himself?" asked Franziska.

"Of course. That's what the scene is suggesting. He hanged himself, didn't he?"

"But we found no stepping stool or chair near him." explained Simon. "I find it hard to believe he could have hanged a rope to the celling without stepping on anything."

Chains seemed confused. He left them alone for a minute and went to look at the scene more closely. He came back, worse than before.

"B…bu...but it…it can't be! A…a murder…in my prison?! That would be even worse! A Murderer in my midst! This is tragedy!"

"I agree." said Franziska. "Which is why we need to find them. Any ideas where somebody in this prison might have gotten rope from?"

"Yes, that would be quite useful." said Simon.

"The only place I can think of…is the workshop."

"The workshop?"

"Here, we don't just keep inmates in cells. We offer them opportunities to be creative. Express their inner world. Some need that very much."

"I don't believe criminals are worthy of such privileges." thought Franziska.

"There is a workshop where they can make pieces of work out of wood, paper and, yes, even rope."

"So somebody could have smuggled rope out of there?"

"It would have been hard. We count the materials and search the inmates before we let them go. But It's not outside the realms of possibility."

"Couldn't someone have just brought rope from outside?" asked Simon.

"No, that's impossible. We conduct full body search on all visitors. We don't let the bring dangerous items, like ropes, in here! The rope most likely came from the workshop. After all, that's the only place where rope can be acquired in here."

"Then we need to go there next." said Franziska. "That place is very interesting to me."

"Agreed." said Simon. "But first there is another issue to be resolved."

Right then, an officer walked up to them.

"E…excuse me."

"Yes? What is it?" asked Simon.

The officer showed them a black phone.

"Look at this."

"A…phone?" asked Chains.

"Not just a phone." said Franziska "That's a burner phone. One usually used by criminals. Where did you find it?"

"In that cell. The one you told me to check. It was lying under the bed."

"Oh, right." she said and took the phone. "This could be important. I'll hold on to it."

"This is certainly looking interesting." said Simon,

"So, what did you want to resolve?" asked Chains.

"Oh, yes." said Simon. "The body was found, as we have heard, just this morning."

"I know. I just heard about it now."

"In that case…why wasn't it found earlier? If a night patrol had passed through here, they should have spotted something like this earlier, shouldn't they?"

"Th…that's a good point. I don't know about that. I need to check the shift program."

"We had an officer retrieve it."

Right on cue, that officer came back.

"H…here it is, ma'am! The shift program from last night."

"That was quick." said Franziska.

"Looks like the threat of your whip turned him into Flash Gordon." commented Simon.

Franziska took the program and looked over it.

"What does it say?"

"According to this…" said Franziska. "Someone was supposed to be patrolling here last night."

"And who was that?"

"His name was…"

Before she could finish, a voice interrupted her.

"Dale Vigil! I found him!"

She turned around. It was the officer she had sent to find the witness. She didn't lose time whipping him.

"Why, ma'am?"

"Because you interrupted me. Only death is allowed to interrupt me! Now what?"

"I found the witness…you know, the one who found the body."

He pointed to a uniformed man standing by him side. He was small, timid and without any facial hair. He seemed like he hadn't become a full adult yet.

"This is him?"

"Yes, ma'am. Dale Vigil"

"Franziska turned to him.

"Dale Vigil? Is that your name?"

"Y…yes, ma'am!" he said, shaking. He didn't seem very confident or relaxed.

"And you found the body this morning?"

"Th…that's right. I was making my morning rounds, as per the program when I saw…that horrific sight!"

"Then testify about it! No wasting time!"

"Y…yes, ma'am."

Witness testimony

Finding the body

I was making my rounds this morning. I was the security guard on patrol.

As I was passing by the cells, I took casual looks inside.

That's what I did as I passed through here. And then…

I saw that horrible sight! Him…hanging from the ceiling…dead!

I was terrified! I ran away and sounded the alarm!

That's what happened.

"So, you had no idea of it until this morning."

"O…of course not. Why would I? I wasn't even here last night."

"Hmmm. I see." said Franziska. "Interesting story. Now then, I wish to cross-examine you."

"W…what? But…"

His response was met with a strong whipping.

"Silence! I don't require your permission! I am in charge and what I say goes! Now, repeat your testimony without any incessant chatting!"

"O…okay."

"He thinks he can lie to me?" she thought. "His lies is as clear as it gets! He won't get away with this!"

Cross-examination

Finding the body

I was making my rounds this morning. I was the security guard on patrol.

Hold it: "And this happened this morning?"

"Yes. How many times do I have to repeat myself?"

He was starting to get irritated. But one look from Franziska was enough to make him go back to his timid self.

"Y…yes. That was this morning. I…I told you this already."

"There it goes." said Franziska. "I gave him one last chance to tell the truth…and he wasted it. I think it's time for the evidence now!"

As I was passing by the cells, I took casual looks onside.

That's what I did as I passed through here. And then…

I saw that horrible…hanging from the ceiling…dead!

I was terrified! I ran away and sounded the alarm!

That's what happened.

Objection

"Mr. Vigil!" she said. "Your testimony is nothing more than a bunch of paper-thin lies! And bad things happen to those who lie to a von Karma!"

"W…what do you mean?"

Franziska pulled out the shift program.

"It's says here that you were meant to cover the shift not this morning…but yesterday night!"

"Ah…"

"I…is that true?" asked Chains. "Vigil, you wouldn't…"

"N…no…I…I didn't…"

"In fact…" said Franziska. "The one who was supposed to cover the morning's shift…is a Mr. Patrick Sentinel.

"S…Sentinel?" said Chains. "I…I know him. He is one of our best guards. He would never miss his shift without a very good reason."

"Mr. Sentinel is not in our interest right now." said Franziska. "The point is you were supposed to be here last night…and yet you withheld that fact!" said Franziska. "That makes you very suspicious, you know."

"W…wait, wait, wait! I..I can explain!"

"I have no interests for more excuses!" said Franziska. "You should have said the truth right away. For now, I am placing you under arrest."

"M…Ms. von Karma! You…you can't be serious!" said Chains. "V…Vigil…he wouldn't…"

"I have plenty of reasons to think otherwise!" said Franziska. "Talk, Mr. Vigil! Why did you do this? Why kill the man?!"

"I…I would never…"

"Enough!" she said and whipped him. "If you still insist on lying to our faces, I have no other choice. Until proven innocent you are placed under arrest for the murder of Mr. Benedict Waterloo!"

"I…Please, I'm begging you!" said Vigil. "Listen to me!"

"Begging in useless here!" said Franziska. "You had your chance! Now the rest of your talk will be taken to the detention center!"

"Ms. von Karma!" said Simon, who also seemed surprised. "Don't you think you are being a little too rush? What's the harm in listening to him again? Maybe we could…"

"Be quiet!" she said and struck her whip against the floor. "I don't need advice for a rookie like yourself! I know how to do my job! As long as this my case, you will do as I say! Or I can easily have you taken off for contumacy!"

Simon was hurt by her words but tried to hide it.

"Now then, Mr. Vigil." she said. "I'm taking you in. And no amount of begging of complaining will save you!"

She started moving towards him. But before she could, a voice rang out.

"Not so fast, Ms. von Karma!"

She froze in place. Up until that moment, everyone had felt that Franziska was unstoppable, like a force of nature. That nothing would be able of stopping her from doing what she wanted to do. And yet, the voice that resonated through the prison walls accomplished just that. Franziska stopped in her tracks. She immediately recognized it and wasn't happy.

"No…it couldn't be…"

She turned around and her suspicions were confirmed.

"Who's there?" asked Simon.

"The devil incarnated!" said Franziska. "What the hell is he doing here?!"

To be continued